Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
San Diego, CA
🏆 San Diego leads 15 of 22 categories
Memphis
Tennessee
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027
San Diego
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,657 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,383,987 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $644k less ($139,600 vs $783,300)
Rent averages $1030/mo less ($1,050 vs $2,080)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than San Diego
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails San Diego by $50,567/yr
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 6.1%)
San Diego, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,567 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Memphis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (6.1%)
More college-educated — 48.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 51°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $783,300
Higher rents — median is $2,080/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Memphis
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$644k less
$139,600 vs $783,300
Memphis
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 79.8°F
San Diego
Median Income
$50,567
$98,657 vs $48,090/yr
San Diego
Violent Crime
84% lower
412.2 vs 2501.3 per 100k
San Diego
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | San Diego, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $783,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $2,080⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $98,657 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 89.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | San Diego Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 | 1,383,987 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 47.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 19.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs San Diego's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Diego leads 15 of 22 categories. Memphis wins 7 and San Diego wins 15. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Memphis to San Diego or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $783,300 median home), income ($48,090 vs $98,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and San Diego, CA are about 1,560 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.